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What a beautiful season of the year – Fall!

If you were to get in your car and take a ride into the country, you would see the beautiful fall leaves changing colors: purple, yellow, red, and orange. In your travels you would also see fields of orange — pumpkins. Pumpkins of all sizes. This amazing pumpkin can be made into delicious pies, cookies, bread, cake, just to name a few tasty foods.

Pumpkins are also used for Halloween. Now there are Christians who have a hard time with Halloween and argue that it is a pagan holiday that should be avoided. I for one, am not into the witches, haunted houses, demons etc. and know that we as believers should turn something evil into something good.

This opportunity can make a difference in how we look at Oct. 31. It  can be turned into teachable moments to share with children. I know there are many churches that have a party and the children dress up as Bible characters. Others, use this opportunity to do “trunk or treat”. Loading your trunk with candy and organizing the church parking lot with members cars, ready to share treats with community children. A place to receive all the candy one would need and make it a safe environment for all. Churches also hand out tracts and church information. Great idea!!!!

So, instead of carving out a Jack O’Lantern with your pumpkin; why not consider this idea and carve out the top of the pumpkin and share these thoughts with children:

1. Open our minds to learn more about God. Tell them that God created all things. That He sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins. That God loves everyone and that we should read, listen and do what the Bible says we should do.

2. Clean out the inside of the pumpkin and tell how Christ can take away our sins if we put our faith and trust in Him as our personal Savior.

3. As you cut out the eyes in the shape of hearts, talk about how we need to open our eyes to see God’s love.

4. Next, carve out a nose in the shape of a cross and explain how we should not turn up our noses and have a lack of genuine gratitude for what Christ did on the cross for us. In our country, many of us take for granted Christ’s love for us and the sacrifice He made for us, so we could have a home in heaven.

5. Cut an opening for the mouth and make a smile or carve that area into a shape of a fish, telling how we should share God with others.

6. The final touch:  place a candle inside and light it, so our light, our life, will shine for God. You can use it as a centerpiece on your dining room table or place it outside. It is a great conversation tool.

What better opportunity to overcome the use of a pumpkin, displayed in windows and yards every Oct. 31st and make it good.

After all- God made the pumpkin!!! 🙂

Genesis 1:12 “And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

Matthew 5:14a “Ye are the light of the world…”

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

(idea from Mary Kate Warner http:/www.teachsundayschool.com/fallsale.html)